Quotient Ltd 00-0000000 false 0001596946 0001596946 2021-02-23 2021-02-23

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2021 (February 23, 2021)

 

 

QUOTIENT LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Jersey, Channel Islands   001-36415   Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

B1, Business Park Terre Bonne,

Route de Crassier 13,

1262 Eysins, Switzerland

  Not Applicable
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 011-41- 22-716-9800

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Ordinary Shares, nil par value   QTNT   The Nasdaq Global Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging Growth Company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

On February 23, 2021, Quotient Limited (the “Company” and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “we”, “us” and “our”) announced several planned changes to its management team:

 

   

Franz Walt, our Chief Executive Officer, plans to retire from the Company on May 24, 2021 (the “retirement date”).

 

   

Manuel Mendez, age 53, will be appointed as our Chief Executive Officer, effective as of April 1, 2021.

 

   

Mr. Walt will resign from his positions as our Chief Executive Officer and a director of our board of directors (the “Board”), effective as of the date Mr. Mendez’s commences employment as Chief Executive Officer (the “transition date”).

 

   

From the transition date to the retirement date, Mr. Walt will serve as an executive employee to provide transition support and participate in specific projects for us. Mr. Walt has also agreed to provide consulting services to us for up to 18 months following the retirement date to support the new Chief Executive Officer and to consult on special initiatives or other matters that may arise.

 

   

We and Mr. Walt have entered into a transition, separation and consultancy agreement (the “Transition Agreement”), and we have agreed to make certain payments under the terms of the Transition Agreement to Mr. Walt in consideration for his service to us, his continued employment with us through the retirement date, his consulting services to us following the retirement date, and his execution and delivery of a release of claims to us.

 

   

We and Mr. Mendez have entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), and we have agreed under the Employment Agreement to make certain inducement awards to Mr. Mendez in connection with his appointment as our Chief Executive Officer.

Resignation and Retirement of Franz Walt as our Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mr. Walt, our Chief Executive Officer, will resign from his positions as our Chief Executive Officer and director of the Board, effective as of the transition date. Mr. Walt will continue to serve in his current capacity, including as our Chief Executive Officer, until the transition date. During the period between the transition date and the retirement date, Mr. Walt will serve as an executive employee to provide transition support and participate in specific projects for us. His decision to retire from the Company, and his resignation from his position as our Chief Executive Officer, is not the result of any disagreement between him and us regarding our business operations, policies or practices.

In connection with his planned retirement, on February 23, 2021, we and Mr. Walt entered into the Transition Agreement, pursuant to which, in recognition of Mr. Walt’s service to us, for his continued provision of services through the retirement date and beyond, and his execution and delivery to us of a release of claims, Mr. Walt will receive a one time cash payment of CFH 1,125,000 (equal to 18 months’ base salary) and payment of his fiscal year 2021 and 2022 annual bonus entitlement (such 2022 annual bonus entitlement being equal to 2/12ths of Mr. Walt’s 2021 annual bonus entitlement).

In addition, the Transition Agreement provides that all options to acquire our ordinary shares held by Mr. Walt that are unvested as of the retirement date and that are scheduled to vest within 12 months following the retirement date will remain outstanding and vest and become exercisable on their regularly scheduled vesting dates after the retirement date; all other options held by Mr. Walt that are unvested as of the retirement date will be forfeited; and all options held by Mr. Walt that are vested as of the retirement date will remain exercisable until May 24, 2022. Furthermore, all restricted share units (“RSUs”) and other awards with respect to our ordinary shares held by Mr. Walt that are unvested as of the retirement date and that are scheduled to vest within 12 months following the retirement date will remain outstanding and vest on their regularly scheduled vesting dates after the retirement date; and all other RSUs held by Mr. Walt that are unvested as of the retirement date will be forfeited. Mr. Walt will also be entitled to receive all accrued and vested benefits under any other Company benefit plans, and any reimbursements to which Mr. Walt is entitled under current policies through the retirement date.


Mr. Walt has also agreed to provide consulting services to us to support the new Chief Executive Officer and to consult on any special projects or other matters that may arise during the 18 months after the retirement date.

The Transition Agreement additionally contains a release of claims arising from Mr. Walt’s employment, and other customary provisions, including a non-disparagement clause.

During the period between the retirement date and 18 months thereafter, Mr. Walt will be obligated to refrain from engaging in any activity that relates to or competes with products or services in the field of microarray multiplexing technology. During the same period, Mr. Walt will be obligated to refrain from soliciting any of our (or our affiliates’) employees, suppliers or customers.

The foregoing description of the Transition Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Transition Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Appointment of Manuel Mendez as our Chief Executive Officer

On April 1, 2021, Mr. Mendez will join the Company as our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Mendez brings over 30 years of experience in the diagnostic and life science markets. From 2019 to 2021, Mr. Mendez served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Office at Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), a leading global provider of diagnostic information services, where he played a key role in accelerating growth and supporting efforts related to the coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. From 2014 to 2019, Mr. Mendez held various roles, including Senior Vice President, Global Commercial Operations, Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Executive Committee, at QIAGEN N.V., a worldwide provider of Sample to Insight solutions for molecular testing. Mr. Mendez has also held a variety of senior leadership roles with Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., OraSure Technologies, Inc. and bioMerieux, Inc. Mr. Mendez received a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Boston University.

With respect to the disclosure required by Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K, there are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Mendez and any other person pursuant to which he will assume the role of our Chief Executive Officer. With respect to the disclosure required by Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K, there are no family relationships between Mr. Mendez and any of our directors or executive officers. With respect to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, except as described herein, there are no relationships or related transactions between Mr. Mendez and us that would be required to be reported.

In connection with Mr. Mendez’s appointment as our Chief Executive Officer, on February 23, 2021, we entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. Mendez, which sets forth the terms and conditions under which Mr. Mendez will serve in this position. The Employment Agreement was approved by the Board as well as the Remuneration Committee of the Board. The agreement has a four-year term. Mr. Mendez will be required to devote the majority of his business time and energy to the Company and, subject to certain circumstances set forth in the Employment Agreement, will work at our premises in Eysins, Switzerland.

During the period of his employment and for a period of one year following any termination of his employment, Mr. Mendez will be obligated to refrain from engaging in competition with us, our subsidiaries and our affiliates. During the period of his employment and for a period of two years following any termination of his employment, Mr. Mendez will be obligated to refrain from soliciting any of our (or our subsidiaries’ or affiliates’) employees, suppliers or customers.

Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Mendez will, among others, be entitled to the following:

 

   

a base salary of CHF 750,000 per annum;


   

eligibility to receive employee benefits that are customary for other senior executives of the Company located in Switzerland;

 

   

eligibility to receive a discretionary annual cash bonus of up to CHF 750,000 based on the achievement of performance targets determined by the Board;

 

   

eligibility to receive a discretionary annual cash bonus for our fiscal year 2022 of no less than 80% of Mr. Mendez’s base salary for our fiscal year 2022;

 

   

subject to certain conditions, our payment to Mr. Mendez’s previous employer, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (“Quest”), of $1,800,000 in a lump sum, in satisfaction of an obligation owed by Mr. Mendez to Quest;

 

   

subject to the condition that Mr. Mendez forfeits $960,000 cash bonus due to him by Quest as of March 31, 2021, our payment to him of a lump sum amount equivalent to such cash bonus; and

 

   

our payment to him of a sign on bonus equal to $1,065,000.

In addition, in connection with the appointment of Mr. Mendez as our Chief Executive Officer, we will grant the following awards to Mr. Mendez, which will be issued outside of our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan and which were approved by the Board and the Remuneration Committee of the Board pursuant to the inducement grant exception under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4), as an inducement that is material to Mr. Mendez’s entering into employment with us:

 

   

effective as of the transition date, (i) RSUs equal in value to $3,333,333 based on the closing sales price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant (the “Sign-On RSUs”); and (ii) options equal in value to $1,666,667 with an exercise price equal to the closing sales price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant (the “Sign-On Share Options”); and

 

   

on or about the transition date (i) RSUs equal in value to $600,000, based on the closing sales price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant (the “First Annual RSUs”); (ii) options equal in value to $400,000 with an exercise price equal to the closing sales price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant (the “First Annual Share Options”); and (iii) performance-based restricted share units (“PSUs”) equal in value to $1,000,000 based on the closing sales price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant (the “First Annual PSUs”).

The number of shares underlying the Sign-On Share Options and First Annual Share Options will be determined using a Black-Scholes calculation based on the closing sales price of the Company’s ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on the grant date.

The RSUs, options and PSUs will vest as following:

 

   

The Sign-On RSUs will vest in three years, with 50% vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and 25% vesting on each of the second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.

 

   

The Sign-On Share Options, the First Annual RSUs and the First Annual Share Options will vest in three equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.

 

   

The First Annual PSUs will vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant up to a maximum of 150% of the target fair market value of the First Annual PSUs, based on the level of achievement of specific performance criteria.

If we terminate Mr. Mendez’s employment other than for “Cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or if Mr. Mendez terminates his employment for “Good Reason” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), then (i) all equity awards with respect to our ordinary shares held by Mr. Mendez at the time of such termination will vest and, in the case of any options, become exercisable, in accordance with their terms, (ii) Mr. Mendez will be entitled to


receive, the base salary and certain employee benefits then in effect through and including the day of termination, (iii) Mr. Mendez will continue to receive payment of base salary during the twelve-month period following such termination, (iv) Mr. Mendez will receive a lump sum payment of a pro-rata portion of his discretionary annual cash bonus for the year of termination based on the achievement of applicable performance goals, and (v) we will pay to Mr. Mendez the certain amounts related to his repatriation to the United States.

The Company has agreed to indemnify Mr. Mendez to the maximum extent permitted by our organizational documents and applicable law for any acts or decisions made in good faith while performing services for us.

The Company and Mr. Mendez have also agreed to enter into a change of control agreement (the “Change of Control Agreement”) on the transition date, substantially in the form of the change of control agreement entered into by the Company and Mr. Walt on November 20, 2020. We expect that the Change of Control Agreement will expire on April 1, 2024 and will automatically renew for successive one year terms unless the Board provides written notice of expiration of the Change of Control Agreement at least 90 days prior to April 1, 2024 or the applicable anniversary thereof. The purpose of the Change of Control Agreement is to establish certain protections for Mr. Mendez upon a qualifying termination of his employment in connection with a change of control of the Company. The change of control agreement between the Company and Mr. Walt was previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 24, 2020.

Further, the Company expects that the Board will appoint Mr. Mendez as a director of the Company to fill the vacancy resulting from Mr. Walt’s retirement.

The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Employment Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Placement of Edward Farrell on Garden Leave

As previously announced in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 22, 2020, Mr. Farrell notified us on December 21, 2020 that he was resigning as our Chief Operating Officer. Under Mr. Farrell’s employment agreement, unless we elect otherwise, his resignation will take effect 12 months after his notice. Effective March 1, 2021, we placed Mr. Farrell on garden leave to continue as a non-executive employee of the Company until the end of his notice period. During his garden leave, Mr. Farrell will remain available for work-related queries and handover activities.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

10.1    Transition, Separation & Consultancy Agreement, dated February 23, 2021, between the Company and Franz Walt
10.2    Employment Agreement, dated February 23, 2021, between the Company and Manuel Mendez
104    The cover page for this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101)


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

March 1, 2021

 

QUOTIENT LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Franz Walt

  Name: Franz Walt
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 10.1

 

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February 23, 2021

Private & Confidential

Mr. Franz Walt

Via Cangina 12a

7014 Flims Dorf

Switzerland

Re: Transition, Separation & Consultancy Agreement

Dear Mr. Walt:

Thank you for your service to Quotient Limited (the “Company”). This letter agreement, when fully executed, will constitute the Transition, Separation & Consultancy Agreement (“Agreement”) between you and the Company concerning the terms of your future retirement from employment with the Company.

1.    Retirement. Unless you separate sooner from the Company, your employment with the Company and its subsidiaries and other controlled affiliates will end upon your retirement on May 24, 2021 (the “Retirement Date”). You agree that on the earlier of (i) the date your successor commences employment with the Company in the position of Chief Executive Officer, and (ii) the Retirement Date (such earliest date, the “Resignation Date”), you shall resign from your position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company and from all directorships and officerships you hold with the Company and any of its affiliates. You agree to sign all appropriate documentation, if any, prepared by the Company in connection with such resignations and your retirement. The Company and you agree that this Agreement satisfies any notice requirement regarding the non-extension of your employment term and any other requirement that may otherwise apply to your retirement and termination of employment under your Employment Agreement, dated as of May 24, 2018, as amended July 2, 2019, between the Company and you (the “Employment Agreement”) and any other agreement between you and the Company or any of its affiliates.

2.    Pre & Post Retirement Services.

2.1    Between the Resignation Date and the Retirement Date, you agree to continue providing such services to the Company and its affiliates as may be requested by the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors (the ”Chairman”), as well as to provide transition support and participate in specific projects for the Company and its affiliates as and to the extent requested by the Chairman.

2.2    On the Resignation Date, you will resign from your position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company but will remain an executive employee of the Company through the Retirement Date. On the Retirement Date, your employment with the Company and its subsidiaries shall terminate.

 

  

Quotient Limited

Registered in Jersey, Channel Islands, number 109886

Registered office – 28 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3QA, Channel Islands

Correspondence address - PO Box 1075, JTC House, 28 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, JE4 2QP, Channel Islands

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2.3    Following the Retirement Date, in consideration, in part, for the payments and benefits to be made to you by the Company pursuant to the terms of this letter, you agree to be available and, upon the Chairman’s request, provide consultancy services to the Company for a period of up to eighteen (18) months to support and mentor your successor as well as to consult on special initiatives or other matters that may arise, but limited to a reasonable amount for an external consultant. . The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that they will, in connection with any consultancy services provided after the Retirement Date, cooperate in good faith to avoid any action or circumstance where you are provided with or knowledge is imputed to you of any Company MNPI without your consent. “Company MNPI” means any information not already known to you that may be considered material non-public information related to the Company or its securities or that may otherwise limit or be construed to limit your ability to trade in the Company’s securities under the rules and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission..

3.    Compensation.

3.1    During the period between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of (i) the Retirement Date and (ii) your separation from the Company, you will continue to receive the same base salary, bonus opportunity (including the pro-rated bonus opportunity for the Company FY22 fiscal year), and non-cash benefits, in each case, as you were eligible to receive under the Employment Agreement, provided however that the FY22 bonus opportunity is set hereunder by contract as 2/12th of your FY21 actual bonus amount. The terms and conditions of such compensation and benefits shall be governed as if provided under your Employment Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, your FY21 and FY22 annual bonus entitlements shall be paid to you as provided under Section 3.3 hereunder.

3.2    Provided that you remain an employee of the Company and its affiliates through the Retirement Date and continue to provide services to the Company and its affiliates after the Retirement Date in accordance with Section 2, and subject to your continued fulfillment of all the promises and agreements contained in this Agreement and compliance with the requirements of this Agreement, you shall be entitled to receive from the Company a lump sum cash payment of CHF 1’125’000 (the “Compensation Payment”).

3.3    The Company’s obligation to make payment to you of the Compensation Payment and the FY21 and FY22 bonus entitlements, is expressly conditioned upon your execution of and delivery to the Company between thirty and forty-five days following the Retirement Date of a release of claims in substantially the form attached as Annex A (the “Release”). Following such execution and delivery of the Release, the Company shall make payment of the Compensation Payment and the FY21 and FY22 bonus entitlements as promptly as reasonably practicable together with any social security payments legally due in connection with such payment regarding this Agreement which will be paid fully by the Company as if provided under your Employment Agreement. If you fail to execute and deliver the Release to the Company between thirty and forty-five days after the Retirement Date, you shall not be entitled to the Compensation Payment or payment of the FY21 and FY22 bonus entitlements.

4.    Benefits. Provided that you (i) remain an employee of the Company and its affiliates through the Retirement Date and continue to provide services to the Company and its affiliates after the

 

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Retirement Date in accordance with Section 2, (ii) execute and deliver the Release to the Company and do not revoke it as set forth in Section 3, and (iii) continue to fulfill all the promises and agreements contained in this Agreement and comply with the requirements of this Agreement, the Company shall provide you with the following benefits (the “Benefits”):

4.1    all stock options awarded to you to acquire ordinary shares of the Company (“Options”) that are unvested as of the Retirement Date and that are scheduled to vest within the twelve-month period immediately following the Retirement Date shall remain outstanding and shall vest and become exercisable on their regularly scheduled vesting dates after the Retirement Date; all other Options awarded to you that are unvested as of the Retirement Date shall be forfeited for no consideration on the Retirement Date;

4.2    all Options awarded to you that are vested as of the Retirement Date, including those Options that are due to vest on the Retirement Date, shall remain exercisable until the twelve-month anniversary of the Retirement Date, at which time such vested Options shall expire;

4.3    all restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and other equity awards awarded to you that are unvested as of the Retirement Date and that are scheduled to vest within twelve-month period immediately following the Retirement Date shall remain outstanding and vest on their regularly scheduled vesting dates after the Retirement Date; all other RSUs and other equity awards awarded to you that are unvested as of the Retirement Date shall be forfeited for no consideration on the Retirement Date;

4.4    any accrued and vested benefits under any Company benefit plans, and any reimbursements you are entitled to under current Company policies for periods prior to the Retirement Date shall be paid or reimbursed to you in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company benefit plan or policy. You agree to submit documented reimbursement requests and appropriate documentation for all reimbursable expenses within the seven-day period immediately following the Retirement Date; and

4.5    the Company shall, in accordance with the level of travel benefits provided to you as CEO so far, pay for or reimburse you for costs associated with any travel required of you following the Retirement Date in connection with any services provided by you to the Company or its affiliates under Section 2.4 of this Agreement.

5.    Company Property. You agree to return all Company property in your possession within fourteen days following the Retirement Date. Company property includes work product, electronic devices and other physical property of the Company. This includes equipment, supplies, keys, security items, credit cards, passwords, electronic devices, laptop computers, cellular phones and Blackberry devices. You must also return all originals and any copies of Company records. This includes any disks, files, notebooks, or other tangible or intangible material, including, without limitation, any such material stored on any digital, electronic, or other medium, related to the Company’s business, as well as any other Company records in your possession. In addition, you and the Company agree to cooperate in good faith in identifying, providing you access to, and appropriately segregating property belonging to you and maintained on Company premises on the Retirement Date.

 

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6.    General Release. You knowingly and voluntarily (for yourself, your spouse, your heirs, executors, administrators and assigns (collectively, the “Releasing Parties”) release and forever discharge the Company, its affiliates and its and their current and former directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, suits, controversies, actions, causes of action, cross-claims, counter-claims, demands, debts, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and attorneys’ fees, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past and present (through the date of this Agreement) and whether known or unknown, suspected, or claimed, against the Company or any of the Released Parties which any Releasing Party has or may have, which arise out of or are connected with your employment with, or your separation or retirement from, the Company, including, but not limited to, any rights related to any equity awards, including without limitation any Options or RSUs awarded to you, any rights under your Employment Agreement or any other agreement entered into by you and the Company or any of its affiliates, and any rights related to any allegation, claim or violation, arising under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C. §621 et seq.; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act; any applicable executive orders; the anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act; or their state or local counterparts, or under any other federal, state or local civil or human rights law, or under any other local, state, or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or under any public policy, contract or tort, or under common law; or arising under any policies, practices or procedures of the Company; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, libel, slander, defamation; or any claim for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters (all of the foregoing are collectively referred to herein as the “Claims”). By signing this Agreement, you are representing to the Company that you fully understand this paragraph and have had an opportunity to seek legal advice regarding this paragraph and this Agreement before signing this Agreement. Finally, you are representing that you fully understand that the filing of any Claim shall constitute a rejection or breach of our agreements contained herein. You also waive and release and promise never to assert any such Claims, even if you do not believe that you have such Claims. You are not waiving or releasing any Claims arising under this Agreement or that cannot be waived as a matter of law. Your undertakings in this Section 6 are in addition to the undertakings to be given by you in the Release.

7.    Future Activities. You will not participate or otherwise act as an expert witness or consultant or in any similar capacity in any litigation, arbitration, regulatory or agency hearing or other adversarial or investigatory proceeding against the Company. In addition, at no time in the future will you voluntarily have any contact with any of the Company’s current or former employees for purposes of soliciting, advising about or discussing their participation or potential participation in any litigation, arbitration, regulatory or agency hearing or other adversarial or investigatory proceeding against the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent you from responding truthfully to informal or formal requests for information from governmental authorities or your taking any actions provided for in the preceding sentence in connection with any litigation asserted against the Company and/or you. You shall promptly notify the Company of any such requests.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or interfere with your exercise of protected rights, including rights under the National Labor Relations Act; filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or OSHA; reporting possible violations of law to or participating in an investigation by any federal, state or local government agency or commission such as the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor or the Securities and Exchange Commission. You do agree, however, to waive any right to receive any monetary award or benefit resulting from such a charge, report, or investigation related to any Claims, except that you may receive and fully retain a monetary award from a government-administered whistle-blower award program.

8.    Preserving Name and Reputation. You will not at any time in the future defame, disparage or make statements or disparaging remarks which embarrasses or causes material harm to the name or reputation of the Company, its affiliates or any of its or their officers, directors or employees. “Disparagement” as used herein means the form and substance of any communication, regardless of whether or not you believe it to be true, that tends to degrade or belittle a party or subject a party to ridicule or embarrassment. This paragraph 8 does not apply to statements made pursuant to or in connection with court proceedings or under penalty of perjury; however, you agree to give advance notice to the Company of such an event, to the extent practicable.

9.    Intellectual Property. You hereby acknowledge and agree that all ideas, methodologies, inventions, discoveries, developments, designs, improvements, formulas, programs, processes, techniques, know-how, research and data (whether or not patentable or registerable under patent, copyright a similar statute and including all rights to obtain, register, perfect and enforce those rights), that you might have learned of, conceived, developed or created alone or with others during your past, present or future association with or employment by Company or any of its affiliates (whether or not conceived, developed or created on behalf of Company or its affiliates during regular working hours), or that relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the business, products or technology of the Company or any of its affiliates or to the actual or demonstrable anticipated research and development of the Company or any of its affiliates, are the sole and exclusive property of the Company and its affiliates, whether or not subject to patent, copyright, trademark or trade secret protection (hereinafter “Company Inventions”). You hereby assign to the Company all right, title and interest to all Company Inventions. The consideration for such assignment is the past, current and future compensation paid to you under your Employment Agreement and under this Agreement, by virtue of your service to the Company. You will also disclose to the Company all inventions made, discovered, conceived, reduced to practice, or developed by you, either alone or jointly with others, within six (6) months after the Retirement Date which resulted, in whole or in part, your prior employment by Company. You will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company all additional instruments or documents that the Company may determine at any time to be necessary to carry out the intentions of this Section 9. Furthermore, whether during or after your employment with the Company, you will promptly perform any acts deemed necessary or desirable by the Company, at the Company’s expense, to assist it in obtaining, maintaining, defending and enforcing any rights and/or assignment of a Company Invention. You hereby irrevocably designate and appoint the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents, as your agent and attorney-in-fact to act for, on behalf of and instead of you, to execute and file any documents, applications or related findings and to do all other

 

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lawfully permitted acts in furtherance of the purposes set forth above in this Section 9, including, without limitation, the perfection of assignment and the prosecution and issuance of patents, patent applications, copyright applications and registrations, trademark applications and registrations, or other rights in connection with such Company Inventions and improvements thereto with the same legal force and effect as if executed by you.

10.    Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants.

10.1    Agreement Not to Compete. During the period between the Retirement Date and eighteen (18) months thereafter, you will not, anywhere in the world, engage or participate, either individually or as an employee, consultant or principal, member, partner, agent, trustee, officer, manager, director, investor or shareholder of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity, in any activity that relates to or competes with products or services in the field of microarray multiplexing technology. Nothing in this section 10.1 will be deemed to preclude you from holding less than 1% of the outstanding capital stock of any corporation whose shares are publicly traded.

10.2    Agreement Not to Solicit Employees. During the period between the Retirement Date and eighteen (18) months thereafter, you will not, directly or indirectly, alone or on behalf of any person or business entity, hire or aid, encourage, advise, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates to leave his or her employment with the Company or any of its affiliates.

10.3    Agreement Not to Solicit Customers and Suppliers. During the period between the Retirement Date and eighteen (18) months thereafter, you will not, directly or indirectly, alone or on behalf of any person or business entity, cause or attempt to cause any customer, prospective customer, vendor, supplier, or other business contact of the Company or any of its affiliates to (i) terminate, limit, or in any manner adversely modify or fail to enter into any actual or potential business relationship with the Company or any of its affiliates, or (ii) enter into or expand any actual or potential business relationship with any competitor of the Company or any of its affiliates.

10.4    Blue Pencil Doctrine. If the duration of, the scope of, or any business activity covered by any provision of this Section 10 is in excess of what is determined to be valid and enforceable under applicable law, such provision will be construed to cover only that duration, scope or activity that is determined to be valid and enforceable, and you and the Company consent to the judicial modification of the scope and duration of the restrictions in this Section 10 in any proceeding brought to enforce such restrictions so as to make them valid, reasonable and enforceable. You hereby acknowledge that this Section 10 will be given the construction, which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent not exceeding its express terms, possible under applicable law.

11.    Confidentiality.

11.1    You acknowledge that the Company Confidential Information (as defined hereunder) is proprietary and that you may never disclose any such information to any person or entity at any time, including after the Retirement Date, or make any use thereof for any purpose other than as

 

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may be necessary to perform the services set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement. All Company Confidential Information prepared by or provided to you is and will remain the Company’s property including at all times after the Retirement Date. You agree this paragraph is a material provision of this Agreement and that in the event of breach, you will be liable for the return of the value of all consideration received as well as any other damages sustained by the Company.

11.2    “Company Confidential Information” means all non-public or proprietary information relating to business, products or technology of the Company or any of its affiliates, or that of any Company vendor or customer. Examples of Confidential Information include, but are not limited to, software (in source or object code form), databases, algorithms, processes, designs, prototypes, methodologies, reports, specifications, information regarding Company Inventions, products sold, distributed or being developed by the Company or any of its affiliates, any other non-public information regarding current or developing technology of the Company or any of its affiliates, information regarding vendors and customers, prospective vendors and customers, clients, business contacts, employees and consultants, prospective and executed contracts and subcontracts, marketing and sales plans, strategies or any other plans and proposals used by the Company or any of its affiliates in the course of business, and any non-public or proprietary information regarding present or future business plans of the Company or any of its affiliates, financial information, or any intellectual property, whether any of the foregoing is embodied in hard copy, computer-readable form, electronic or optical form, or otherwise. Your obligations of non-disclosure and non-use of Company Confidential Information shall not apply to Company Confidential Information that has been made generally available to the public by the Company through not fault of your own or becomes generally available to the public through some other normal course of events.

11.3    You are hereby notified that 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) states as follows: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that—(A) is made—(i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” Accordingly, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, you have the right to (1) disclose in confidence trade secrets to federal, state, and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law or (2) disclose trade secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding so long as that filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b).

12.    Forfeiture. In the event that you breach any of your obligations to the Company or any of its affiliates under this Agreement, your Employment Agreement, any other agreement entered into by you and the Company, or as otherwise imposed by law, the Company shall be entitled to stop payment of any benefit due under this Agreement and shall be entitled to recover any benefit paid after the Retirement Date under this Agreement and to obtain all other relief provided by law or equity, including, but not limited to, injunctive relief.

 

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13.    Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under and according to the laws of Switzerland without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Any dispute arising out of or in relation to this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Courts of the Canton of Vaud (Switzerland).

14.    Severability. If any portion, provision or part of this Agreement is held, determined or adjudicated to be invalid, unenforceable or void for any reason whatsoever, each such portion, provision or part shall be severed from the remaining portions, provisions or parts of this Agreement and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such remaining portions, provisions or parts.

15.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement between you and the Company is in consideration of the mutual promises described above. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Company with respect to your retirement and related separation from employment. There are no other agreements, written or oral, expressed or implied, between the parties hereto, concerning the subject matter hereof, except the agreements set forth in this Agreement.

16.    Withholding. All payments made to you pursuant to this Agreement are subject to all applicable federal, state and local tax and other withholdings required by law. You acknowledge and agree that all taxes imposed on you by reason of the payments and benefits hereunder are your sole responsibility and the Company is in no way indemnifying you or holding you harmless in respect of any such taxes. The Company shall not be liable to you (or any other individual claiming a benefit through you) for any tax, interest, or penalties you may owe as a result of compensation paid under this Agreement, and the Company shall have no obligation to indemnify or otherwise protect you from the obligation to pay any taxes.

17.    Headings. The headings used herein are for the convenience of reference only and do not constitute part of this Agreement. The headings shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions of this Agreement.

18.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, including emailed or telecopied facsimiles, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

19.    Company Cooperation. In connection with any future disposition by you or any entity affiliated with you of any securities of the Company that bear a restrictive legend, the Company shall cause such legend to be removed and the Company shall cause to be issued a certificate without such legend to the holder of the securities upon which it is stamped, if, unless otherwise required by state securities laws, the holder of such securities provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) (in which case, the Company shall facilitate the removal of the legend; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to furnish an opinion of counsel to facilitate any sale, assignment or transfer pursuant to Rule 144 at any time that such securities are registered for resale under the Securities Act).

[signature page follows]

 

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We wish you every success in your retirement.
Sincerely,
  Quotient Limited
By:  

/s/ Heino von Prondzynski

  Heino von Prondzynski
  Chairman

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have been given the opportunity to review this Agreement carefully; that I have read this Agreement and understand the terms of the Agreement; and that I voluntarily agree to them.

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

/s/ Franz Walt

Franz Walt
Date: February 23, 2021

 

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ANNEX A

RELEASE

This General Release of all Claims (this “Release”) is entered into by Quotient Limited (together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, the “Company”), and Franz Walt (the “Employee”) on May 24, 2021.

In consideration of the payments and benefits set forth in the Transition, Separation & Consultancy Agreement, dated February 23, 2021 between the Company and the Employee (the “Transition Agreement”) and for other good and valuable consideration, which the Employee acknowledges exceeds any amounts to which the Employee otherwise may be entitled, the Company and the Employee agree as follows:

1.    Release. The Employee and the Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and representatives knowingly, voluntarily and completely release and forever discharge, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, insurers, predecessors, successors and assigns, and the current and former employees, attorneys, officers, directors, agents and shareholders of each, both individually and in their business capacities, and the employee benefit plans and programs (“Employee Benefit Plans”), administrators and fiduciaries of each (all collectively referred to throughout this Release as the “Releasees”), of and from, and agree to not file, cause to be filed or pursue against the Releasees, any and all claims, known and unknown, asserted or unasserted, by the Employee or on the Employee’s behalf, which the Employee has or may have against Releasees up to and including the date the Employee signs this Release, including claims for recovery of punitive, compensatory, or other damages or monies (including claims as to taxes), or attorneys’ fees, (the “Claims”), including, but not limited to:

 

   

all Claims arising from the Employee’s employment with the Company, the termination of that employment or the Employee’s retirement, including Claims with respect to any agreement the Employee entered into with the Company or for wrongful termination or retaliation;

 

   

all Claims related to the Employee’s compensation or benefits from the Releasees, including salary, wages, equity awards, bonuses, commissions, incentive compensation, profit sharing, retirement benefits, paid time off, vacation, sick leave, leaves of absence, expense reimbursements, severance pay, and fringe benefits;

 

   

all Claims for breach of contract, breach of quasi-contract, promissory estoppel, detrimental reliance, equitable relief, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and Claims regarding age, disability, race, color, sex, religion, national origin or any classification protected by law;

 

   

all tort Claims, including Claims for fraud, defamation, slander, libel, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, personal injury, negligence, compensatory or punitive damages, negligent or intentional misrepresentation, and discharge in violation of public policy;

 

   

all federal, state, and local statutory Claims, including Claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, attorneys’ fees, medical expenses, experts’ fees, costs and disbursements; and

 

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any other Claims of any kind whatsoever, from the beginning of time until the date the Employee signs this Release, in each case whether based on contract, tort, statute, local ordinance, regulation or any comparable law in any jurisdiction.

By way of example and not in limitation, the Claims include any claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and/or 1871, 42 U.S.C. Section 1981; the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.; the Family Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.; the federal Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2102 et seq; the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Fair Credit Reporting Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. The Parties intend for this release to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. THE EMPLOYEE UNDERSTANDS AND AGREE THAT THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT CONTAINS A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS.

2.    No Claims. The Employee represents that the Employee has not initiated, filed, or caused to be filed and agrees not to initiate, file or cause to be filed any Claims against any Releasees. The Employee expressly covenants and warrants that the Employee has not assigned or transferred to any person or entity any portion of any Claims that are waived, released and/or discharged herein. If the Employee nonetheless files, causes to be filed, or pursues any Claims against one or more Releasee, the Employee will pay to each such Releasee any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and court costs) incurred by such Releasee in connection with such action, claim or suit.

3.    Claims Not Waived. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Employee is not waiving or being required to waive any (1) right that cannot be waived as a matter of law, (2) rights to any vested benefits, or (3) rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date of the execution of this Release.

4.    Protected Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Release, nothing in this Release shall prohibit or interfere with the Employee’s exercising protected rights, including rights under the National Labor Relations Act; filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or OSHA; reporting possible violations of law to or participating in an investigation by any federal, state or local government agency or commission such as the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor or the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Employee does, however, waive any right to receive any monetary award or benefit resulting from such a charge, report, or investigation related to any Claims, except that the Employee may receive and fully retain a monetary award from a government-administered whistle-blower award program.

5.    18 U.S.C. § 1833(b). The Employee is hereby notified that 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) states as follows: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that—(A) is made—(i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” Accordingly, notwithstanding any other provision of this Release to the contrary, the Employee has the right to (1) disclose in confidence trade secrets to federal, state, and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law

 

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or (2) disclose trade secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding so long as that filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure. Nothing in this Release is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b).

6.    Acknowledgment. By the Employee’s signature below, the Employee acknowledges each of the following: (a) that the Employment Agreement dated as of May 24, 2018, as amended July 2, 2019, between the Company and Employee (the “Employment Agreement”) terminated on [insert Retirement Date of May 24, 2021 or date of earlier separation]; (b) that the payments and benefits to be made pursuant to the Transition Agreement are in complete satisfaction of and shall fully settle all of the Company’s obligations under the Employment Agreement; (c) that from [insert Retirement Date of May 24, 2021 or date of earlier separation] the relationship between the Company and the Employee shall be solely governed by the Transition Agreement; (d) that the Employee has read this Release or has been afforded every opportunity to do so; (e) that the Employee is fully aware of the Release’s contents and legal effect; (f) that the Employee has voluntarily chosen to enter into this Release, without duress or coercion, economic or otherwise, and based upon the Employee’s own judgment and not in reliance upon any promises made by the Company other than those contained in this Release; and (g) that the Employee had an opportunity to seek legal advice regarding this paragraph and this Release before signing this Release.

7.    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under and according to the laws of Switzerland without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Any dispute arising out of or in relation to this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent Courts of the Canton of Vaud (Switzerland).

8.    Severability. Should any provision of this Release be declared illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction and cannot be modified to be enforceable, excluding the general release language, such provision shall immediately become null and void, leaving the remainder of this Release in full force and effect. If the general release language is found to be illegal or unenforceable, the Employee agrees to execute a binding replacement release.

9.    Non-Admission of Wrongdoing. The Employee agrees that neither this Release nor the furnishing of the consideration for this Release shall be deemed or construed at any time for any purpose as an admission by the Company or the Releasees of any wrongdoing or evidence of any liability or unlawful conduct of any kind.

10.    Amendment. This Release may not be modified, altered or changed except in a writing signed by both the Company and the Employee that specifically refers to this Release.

The Employee knowingly and voluntarily signs this Release as of the date(s) set forth below:

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:  

 

 
Franz Walt  

Date:             , 2021

 

 

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Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION VERSION

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (“Employment Agreement”) is entered into as of February 23, 2021, by and between Quotient Limited (“Employer”) and Manuel Mendez (“Executive”) (collectively, the “Parties”).

 

A.

Employer desires assurance of the association and services of Executive in order to retain Executive’s experience, abilities, and knowledge, and is therefore willing to engage Executive’s services on the terms and conditions set forth below.

 

B.

Executive desires to be employed by Employer and is willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth below.

It is expressly agreed between the Parties that this Employment Agreement shall be subject to the competent authorities issuing the work and residence permits required for the Executive under Swiss law.

In consideration of the above recitals and of the mutual promises and conditions in this Employment Agreement, the Parties agree:

 

1.

DUTIES AND AUTHORITY; OBLIGATIONS

 

1.1

Duties. Employer employs Executive as its Chief Executive Officer and Executive accepts such employment. Executive will perform all of the employment duties, responsibilities and job functions consistent with such a management position and such other duties and responsibilities consistent with the role of a Chief Executive Officer of a publicly-traded multi-national corporation as deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Employer (the “Board”) (collectively, the “Employment Duties”). Executive will exercise the authority consistent with those duties and responsibilities. Such Employment Duties may require the performance of work beyond customary office hours and involve varying work period hours and working conditions.

 

1.2

Obligations. Executive shall at all times during the Employment Term:

 

  1.2.1

devote the whole of his working time, attention, skill, best efforts and ingenuity to the Employment Duties;

 

  1.2.2

comply fully with, implement and enforce all Employer rules, regulations, policies and procedures from time to time in force;

 

  1.2.3

perform the Employment Duties faithfully and diligently;

 

  1.2.4

follow all lawful and reasonable directions of the Board in the performance of the Employment Duties;

 

  1.2.5

use best efforts to promote the interests of Employer and not do or willingly permit to be done anything that is harmful to those interests; and

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

  1.2.6

keep the Board fully informed (in writing if so requested) of the conduct of its business and affairs and provide such explanations as the Board may require.

 

2.

EXECUTIVE’S COMPENSATION, PERQUISITES AND BENEFITS

 

2.1

Compensation. During the Employment Term, Employer agrees to pay Executive a base salary at the rate of seven hundred and fifty thousand Swiss Francs (CHF 750,000) per annum (the “Base Compensation”). The Base Compensation will be paid in thirteen equal installments per annum, and in accordance with Employer’s standard payroll practices. Employer will withhold from the Base Compensation all payroll taxes and other deductions required by applicable law (including, but not limited to, with respect to social security) or authorized by Executive. The Base Compensation will be reviewed on the twelve-month anniversary of the Commencement Date (as defined below) and thereafter on an annual basis and may be increased as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. As part of such determination, the Board may take into account the average annual inflation rate in Switzerland. The undertaking to review Executive’s Base Compensation shall not create any entitlement to an increase in base salary. Executive will not be eligible for overtime pay for work performed outside Employer’s regular business hours.

 

2.2

Benefits. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be permitted to participate in any group life, hospitalization or disability insurance plans, health programs, retirement plans, fringe benefit programs and similar benefits that may be available to other senior executives of Employer located in Switzerland, generally on the same terms as such other executives, in each case to the extent that Executive is eligible under the terms of such plans or programs (the “Employee Benefits”). Employer will supply a credit card to Executive to be used solely for expenses incurred in carrying out the Employment Duties. The card must be returned by Executive to Employer immediately upon request by Employer. Employee Benefits for Executive will be provided at Employer’s expense except for any applicable premium contributions, co-pay obligations and taxes on reportable income applicable to Executive’s participation. Employer may adopt, amend, change, substitute, replace, suspend or terminate any of the Employee Benefits during the Employment Term in its sole discretion.

 

2.3

Specific Benefits. Without limiting the generality of Section 2.2, Employer shall make available to Executive twenty-five (25) vacation days per calendar year, and the standard legal holidays for the Executive’s base employment location specified in Section 3 (Place and Hours of Employment). Prior to use of a vacation day, Executive shall receive the prior approval of the Chairman of the Board (the “Chairman”) or his or her designee following approval of the Board.

 

2.4

Perquisites. During the Employment Term, Employer will provide to Executive the following perquisites:

 

  2.4.1

During the period between the Commencement Date and the earlier of (i) the nine-month anniversary of the Commencement Date, and (ii) the date Executive owns a residence in Switzerland, Employer shall lease temporary housing for Executive with a rent not to exceed CHF 5,500 per month;

 

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  2.4.2

During the period Executive’s children are enrolled in high school, whether via in-person or remote instruction, Employer shall reimburse Executive for tuition fees incurred by Executive with respect to such enrollment;

 

  2.4.3

An Employer provided cell phone, laptop computer, and tablet device;

 

  2.4.4

A net after-tax yearly car allowance of CHF 25,000 per annum;

 

  2.4.5

Should Executive, prior to relocating to Switzerland, incur a loss on the sale of Executive’s vehicle owned in the U.S. by reason of selling such vehicle for less than fair market value (based on published local data), Employer shall reimburse Executive for such loss with a net after-tax payment for any such loss;

 

  2.4.6

Employer shall reimburse Executive for the following expenses reasonably incurred by Executive in connection with Executive’s relocation to Switzerland: expenses for transporting Executive’s personal items and household goods to Switzerland, costs relating to locating an initial residence in Switzerland, and costs of business-class airfare for one-way flights to Switzerland for Executive and Executive’s household family members;

 

  2.4.7

Employer shall reimburse Executive for rental costs incurred by Executive with respect to Executive’s New York, New York apartment lease, not to exceed four months of rent in the aggregate;

 

  2.4.8

Employer shall cover costs associated with a home-finding trip to Switzerland for Executive and Executive’s household family members, including reasonable costs for business-class round-trip airfare to Switzerland and accommodations during such trip;

 

  2.4.9

For each calendar year during which Executive is employed by Employer for any part thereof, Employer shall directly pay to PwC all reasonable costs incurred in connection with the preparation of annual U.S. and Swiss federal and local tax returns for Executive;

 

  2.4.10

Employer shall pay for twenty percent (20%) of Executive’s annual social security insurance obligations under Swiss law;

 

  2.4.11

During the period between the Commencement Date and the earlier of (i) July 1, 2021, and (ii) the date Executive’s household family members relocate to Switzerland, Employer shall, up to one time per month, cover costs for business-class roundtrip airfare associated with Executive visiting his household family members in the U.S or Executive’s household family members visiting Executive in Switzerland; and

 

  2.4.12

Employer shall reimburse Executive for all legal fees incurred by Executive for the review and negotiation of this Employment Agreement, up to a maximum of $10,000 U.S. Dollars net after taxes.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any obligation of Employer to reimburse Executive under this Section 2.4 shall in all events be subject to Executive’s provision of documentation to Employer and substantiation of such applicable fees, costs, losses and expenses.

 

2.5

Equity Grants/Bonus Schemes. In the Board’s sole discretion, Executive will be eligible to participate in Employer’s ex gratia Bonus Schemes, in accordance with the terms of any ex gratia bonus plan documents, award agreements, and any notices provided by Employer to Executive, including such terms as set forth on the attached Schedule 1. The assessment of the eligibility criteria as well as any actual payment under such ex gratia Bonus Schemes will be decided by the Employer in its absolute discretion. Any payment made in a given year shall not create any entitlement to any future payment under the Employer’s ex gratia Bonus Schemes. In addition, Executive shall be eligible to receive such other compensation and equity grants after commencing employment with the Employer as set forth on the attached Schedule 1.

 

3.

PLACE AND HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT

Executive’s employment location during the Employment Term will be Eysins, Switzerland; provided, however, that Employer’s business needs may from time to time require Executive to travel and to be at other locations as necessary or required to fulfill Executive’s responsibilities. Executive shall be permitted to work one day per week from his home near Eysins, Switzerland or any other location in Switzerland without prior approval from the Board. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, subject to compliance with any mandate or order of a governmental authority issued, adopted or in force (or announced to be issued, adopted or in force) regarding COVID-19, including, without limitation, any “shelter in place,” “stay home” or other restrictions on the freedom of activities of individuals, and provided that it does not result in any disruption in business operations or business continuity, during the period between the Commencement Date and the earlier of (i) July 1, 2021, and (ii) the date Executive’s household family members relocate to Switzerland, Executive shall be permitted to work one week per month in the U.S. Executive shall work during Employer’s regular business hours and any additional hours necessary to fulfill the Employment Duties.

 

4.

EMPLOYMENT TERM

The term of Executive’s employment shall commence on April 1, 2021 (the “Commencement Date”) and shall continue until the four-year anniversary of the Commencement Date, unless earlier terminated by Employer or Executive in accordance with Section 9 below (such term, the “Employment Term”). For the avoidance of doubt, there is no probationary period with respect to the term of Executive’s employment. On and after the Commencement Date, Executive agrees to participate in investor communications as reasonably requested by the Employer.

The Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement will terminate automatically and without notice at the end of the month on which the Executive reaches the ordinary retirement age under Swiss law.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

5.

OTHER EXPENSES

Employer will reimburse Executive promptly for reasonable, necessary, customary and usual business expenses, including travel, entertainment, parking, business meetings and professional dues incurred during the Employment Term and substantiated in accordance with the policies and procedures established from time to time by Employer.

 

6.

EXECUTIVE’S OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

Executive is expected to devote one hundred percent (100%) of Executive’s working time and Executive’s full attention to the business interests of Employer; provided, however, that, after obtaining prior written approval of the Board, Executive may devote reasonable time and effort to community and charitable activities and organizations, so long as they do not interfere with performance of the Employment Duties. The Parties acknowledge and agree that Executive shall be permitted to devote reasonable time in connection with completing the book Executive is currently authoring. Any request for Executive to serve on the board of directors of any for profit corporation must be approved in writing in advance by the Board.

Executive represents to Employer that Executive has no outstanding commitments inconsistent with or in conflict with or that may interfere with any of the terms of this Employment Agreement or the services to be rendered under it.

 

7.

EMPLOYER INVENTIONS

 

7.1

Definition of Employer Inventions. “Employer Inventions” means all ideas, methodologies, inventions, discoveries, developments, designs, improvements, formulas, programs, processes, techniques, know-how, research and data (whether or not patentable or registerable under patent, copyright a similar statute and including all rights to obtain, register, perfect and enforce those rights), that Executive learns of, conceives, develops or creates alone or with others during Executive’s association with or employment by Employer (whether or not conceived, developed or created on behalf of Employer during regular working hours). “Employer Inventions” also includes anything that may be conceived, developed, or created, by Executive, either alone or with others, during Executive’s association with or employment by Employer (whether or not conceived developed, or created during regular working hours), and with respect to which the equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information of Employer was used, or that relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the business of Employer or to Employer’s actual or demonstrable anticipated research and development, or that result from any work performed by Executive for Employer. Notwithstanding the above, the parties agree that the contents of the book Executive is currently authoring are specifically excluded from Employer Inventions.

 

7.2

Disclosure of Employer Inventions. Whether upon Employer’s request or voluntarily, Executive will promptly disclose to Employer or its designee during Executive’s employment with Employer all Employer Inventions that Executive has created, contributed to or knows about, regardless of the nature of that knowledge, and regardless

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

  of whether such Employer Invention, or any aspect of such Employer Invention, has been described, committed to writing, or reduced to practice, in whole or part by any other person. At all other times, Executive will treat every Employer Invention as Confidential Information (as defined in and in accordance with Section 13).

 

7.3

Assignment and Disclosure of Inventions. Executive hereby assigns to Employer all right, title and interest to all Employer Inventions, which will be the sole and exclusive property of Employer, whether or not subject to patent, copyright, trademark or trade secret protection. Executive also acknowledges that, excluding the book that Executive is currently authoring, all original works of authorship that are made by Executive (solely or jointly with others), within the scope of Executive’s employment with Employer, and that are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act. To the extent that any such works, by operation of law, cannot be “works made for hire,” Executive hereby assigns to Employer all right, title, and interest in and to such works and to any related copyrights. The consideration for such assignment and the assistance provided in this Section 7.3 is the normal compensation due Executive by virtue of service to Employer.

 

7.4

Additional Instruments. Executive will promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver to Employer all additional instruments or documents that Employer determines at any time to be necessary to carry out the intentions of this Section 7. Furthermore, whether during or after Executive’s employment with Employer, Executive will promptly perform any acts deemed necessary or desirable by Employer, at Employer’s expense, to assist it in obtaining, maintaining, defending and enforcing any rights and/or assignment of an Employer Invention. Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Employer and its duly authorized officers and agents, as Executive’s agent and attorney-in-fact to act for, on behalf of and instead of Executive, to execute and file any documents, applications or related findings and to do all other lawfully permitted acts in furtherance of the purposes set forth above in this Section 7.4, including, without limitation, the perfection of assignment and the prosecution and issuance of patents, patent applications, copyright applications and registrations, trademark applications and registrations, or other rights in connection with such Employer Inventions and improvements thereto with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive.

 

7.5

Pre-existing Inventions. Executive will retain all right, title and interest in and to inventions that Executive created and owned prior to service to Employer as listed in the attached Schedule 2.

 

8.

INDEMNIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE

Employer will, to the maximum extent permitted by Employer’s bylaws and applicable law, indemnify and hold Executive harmless for any acts or decisions made in good faith while performing services for Employer; provided, however, that acts determined by the trier of facts to be acts of gross negligence or willful misconduct will not be deemed to be in good faith. To the same extent, Employer will pay, and subject to any legal limitations (including the obligation to repay such advances), advance all expenses, including reasonable attorney fees and costs of court-approved settlements, actually and necessarily

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

incurred by Executive in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding and in connection with any appeal, which has been brought against Executive by reason of Executive’s service to Employer while acting in good faith.

 

9.

TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT/EMPLOYMENT

 

9.1

Termination by Employer Without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. Employer may terminate this Employment Agreement and Executive’s employment without Cause upon six (6) months’ advance written notice provided to Executive. Upon such a termination of this Employment Agreement, Executive’s employment and the Employment Term will expire on the final day of the month in which the notice period expires. Employer’s total liability to Executive under this Section 9.1 and/or Section 9.5 will be limited to: (i) the payment of Executive’s Base Compensation and provision of Employee Benefits then in effect (as amended, changed, substituted, replaced, suspended or terminated) through and including the day of termination, (ii) the continued payment of Executive’s Base Compensation for the twelve-month period following the date of such termination, (iii) the lump sum payment of a pro-rata portion of the Discretionary Bonus for the year of termination, based on the achievement of performance goals for the applicable performance period, (iv) all of the equity awards held by Executive as of the date of such termination shall vest and, as applicable, become exercisable, in accordance with their terms, and (v) Employer shall honor the obligations set forth in Section 2.4.9 of this Employment Agreement and shall reimburse Executive in accordance with Section 5 of this Employment Agreement for any and all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive that remain outstanding as of the date of Executive’s termination. In addition, in connection with a termination of employment under Section 9.1 or 9.5, Employer shall promptly, upon a reasonable written estimate of costs provided by Executive, pay to Executive amounts for the following costs to be incurred by Executive within the nine-month period following such termination in connection with Executive’s repatriation to the city of his choice in the United States of America (USA) following such termination: (i) expenses for transporting Executive’s personal items and household goods and one vehicle to the city of his choice in the USA, (ii) costs relating to one house-hunting trip for locating an initial residence in the USA, (iii) costs associated with the sale of Executive’s residence in Switzerland, or if Executive does not own a residence, then for any costs associated with breaking his lease in Switzerland, and (iv) costs of business-class airfare for one-way flights from Switzerland to the city of Executive’s choice in the USA for Executive and Executive’s household family members to repatriate to the USA.

 

9.2

Termination by Employer for Cause. Employer may terminate this Employment Agreement and Executive’s employment for “Cause” at any time in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.2. Cause is defined for purposes of this Section 9.2 as: (a) gross negligence or willful misconduct by Executive in the performance of the Employment Duties; (b) insubordination by Executive to Employer or a willful refusal by Executive to perform the Employment Duties; (c) commission by Executive of a felony, act of moral turpitude or other act, which prevents Executive from effectively performing the Employment Duties or is likely to affect the interests of Employer; (d) breach of any of the provisions of this Employment Agreement including, without limitation, Section 13 or 14; (e) any unexcused absence by Executive from the Employment Duties for a period of five

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

  (5) consecutive days; (f) Executive’s inability to enter into this Employment Agreement or perform the Employment Duties as provided in Section 1 herein; or (g) any act of dishonesty by Executive relating to Employer, its employees or otherwise, including, without limitation, fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation relating to significant amounts. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall not exist unless Employer has first: (i) advised Executive in writing of the specific alleged conduct or allegations constituting “Cause”, (ii) provided Executive with an opportunity to explain such conduct or allegations before a meeting of the entire Board of Directors, and (iii) with respect to any conduct or allegations of “Cause” capable of being cured, provided Executive with thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof to cure such alleged Cause. Employer’s total liability to Executive under this Section 9.2 will be limited to the payment of Executive’s Base Salary and provision of Employee Benefits then in effect (as amended, changed, substituted, replaced, suspended or terminated) through and including the effective date of termination.

 

9.3

Termination Because of Disability of Executive. Employer may terminate this Employment Agreement and Executive’s employment on three (3) month’s prior written notice if Executive is and has been unable, even with reasonable accommodation, to perform Executive’s duties under this Employment Agreement in Executive’s normal and regular manner during a period or periods aggregating at least twenty-six (26) weeks for any period of twelve (12) months due to physical or mental disability or injury. Employer’s total liability to Executive under this Section 9.3 will be limited to the payment of Executive’s Base Compensation and provision of Employee Benefits then in effect (as amended, changed, substituted, replaced, suspended or terminated) through and including the day of termination as a result of disability.

 

9.4

Termination on Death of Executive. If Executive dies during the term of this Employment Agreement, this Employment Agreement will be terminated on the day of Executive’s death. Employer’s total liability to Executive under this Section 9.4 will be (subject to applicable law) limited to the payment of Executive’s Base Compensation and provision of Employee Benefits then in effect (as amended, changed, substituted, replaced, suspended or terminated) through and including the day of Executive’s death.

 

9.5

Termination by Executive for Good Reason. Executive’s employment may be terminated during the Employment Term by the Executive for Good Reason in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.5. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means:

 

  9.5.1

A reduction in Executive’s Base Compensation;

 

  9.5.2

A material diminution by Employer in Executive’s title, reporting relationship authority, duties or responsibilities, including, without limitation, ceasing to be a chief executive officer who reports directly to the board of directors of a public company;

 

  9.5.3

A change of 35 miles or more from Eysins, Switzerland of the geographic location of Employer’s headquarters;

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

  9.5.4

Any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Employer of this Agreement or any other agreement through which Executive provides services to Employer;

provided, however, that Good Reason shall not exist unless (i) Executive has given written notice to the Employer within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the Good Reason event or condition(s), which notice specifies the specific provision under this Section 9.5 relied upon as the basis for such Good Reason event or condition and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed regarding such event or condition, and (ii) the Employer has had at least thirty (30) days to cure such Good Reason event or condition after the delivery of such written notice and has failed to cure such event or condition within such thirty (30) day cure period. Executive’s termination of employment for Good Reason shall be effective as of the expiration of such cure period, or earlier upon Employer’s waiver of such cure period.

 

10.

RESIGNATION OF OFFICE

At any time after notice is given by Employer or Executive to terminate Executive’s employment with Employer, Executive shall, at the request of the Board, resign from all offices Executive may hold as a director or officer of Employer and from all other appointments or offices that Executive holds as nominee or representative of Employer.

 

11.

AGREEMENT SURVIVES MERGER OR DISSOLUTION

This Employment Agreement will survive any merger of Employer with any other entity, regardless of whether Employer is the surviving or resulting corporation, and any transfer of all or substantially all of Employer’s assets to any other entity and to any such successor entity’s subsequent successors or assigns. In the event of any such merger or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Employment Agreement will be binding on and inure to the benefit of the surviving business entity or the business entity to which such assets will be transferred.

The Parties agree that on the Commencement Date Employer and Executive shall enter into a change of control agreement substantially in the form of the change of control agreement entered into by Employer and Franz Walt dated November 20, 2020.

 

12.

ASSIGNMENT

This Employment Agreement may not be assigned by Executive. Employer may assign this Employment Agreement without the consent of Executive to any successor entity of Employer in accordance with Section 11 above.

 

13.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

13.1

Definition of Confidential Information. “Confidential Information” means all nonpublic or proprietary information relating to Employer’s business or that of any Employer vendor or customer. Examples of Confidential Information include, but are not limited to, software (in source or object code form), databases, algorithms, processes,

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

  designs, prototypes, methodologies, reports, specifications, information regarding Employer Inventions, as defined in Section 7.1, products sold, distributed or being developed by Employer, and any other non-public information regarding Employer’s current and developing technology; information regarding vendors and customers, prospective vendors and customers, clients, business contacts, employees and consultants, prospective and executed contracts and subcontracts, marketing and sales plans, strategies or any other plans and proposals used by Employer in the course of its business; and any non-public or proprietary information regarding Employer or Employer’s present or future business plans, financial information, or any intellectual property, whether any of the foregoing is embodied in hard copy, computer-readable form, electronic or optical form, or otherwise. Information that is available in the public domain through no fault of Executive shall not be considered Confidential Information.

 

13.2

Executive’s Use of Confidential Information. From the Commencement Date and at all times thereafter, Executive will maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information. Executive will not, without Employer’s prior written consent, directly or indirectly: (i) copy or use any Confidential Information for any purpose not within the scope of Executive’s work on Employer’s behalf; or (ii) show, give, sell, disclose or otherwise communicate any Confidential Information to any person or entity other than Employer unless such person or entity is authorized by Employer to have access to the Confidential Information in question. These restrictions do not apply if the Confidential Information has been made generally available to the public by Employer or becomes generally available to the public through some other normal course of events. All Confidential Information prepared by or provided to Executive is and will remain Employer’s property or the property of Employer customer to which they belong.

 

13.3

Return of Material. Upon request of Employer or the Board or upon termination (whether voluntary or involuntary), Executive will immediately turn over to Employer all Confidential Information, including all copies, and other property belonging to Employer or any of its customers, including documents, disks, or other computer media in Executive’s possession or under Executive’s control. Executive will also return any materials that contain or are derived from Confidential Information, or are connected with or relate to Executive’s services to Employer or any of its customers. Executive is permitted to retain information related to his employment agreement, change of control agreement and equity awards, his employee benefits and compensation and his performance.

 

14.

NONCOMPETITION AND NONSOLICITATION COVENANTS

 

14.1

Agreement Not to Compete. During the period between the Commencement Date and one (1) year from and after the termination of Executive’s employment with Employer for any reason, Executive will not, anywhere in the world, engage or participate, either individually or as an employee, consultant or principal, member, partner, agent, trustee, officer, manager, director, investor or shareholder of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity, in any activity that competes with products or services related to transfusion diagnostics provided by Employer or any subsidiary or affiliated company during the one (1) year period prior to the date of the termination of employment. Nothing in this Section 14.1 will be deemed to preclude Executive from holding less than 1% of the outstanding capital stock of any corporation whose shares are publicly traded.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

14.2

Agreement Not to Solicit Executives. During the period between the Commencement Date and two (2) years from and after the termination of Executive’s employment with Employer for any reason, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, alone or on behalf of any person or business entity, hire or aid, encourage, advise, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any employee of Employer, or any subsidiary or affiliated companies, to leave his or her employment with Employer.

 

14.3

Agreement Not to Solicit Customers and Suppliers. During the period between the Commencement Date and two (2) years from and after the termination of Executive’s employment with Employer for any reason, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, alone or on behalf of any person or business entity, cause or attempt to cause any customer, prospective customer, vendor, supplier, or other business contact of Employer, or any subsidiary or affiliated companies to terminate, limit, or in any manner adversely modify or fail to enter into any actual or potential business relationship with Employer, or any subsidiary or affiliated companies.

 

14.4

Blue Pencil Doctrine. If the duration of, the scope of, or any business activity covered by any provision of this Section 14 is in excess of what is determined to be valid and enforceable under applicable law, such provision will be construed to cover only that duration, scope or activity that is determined to be valid and enforceable, and Employer and Executive consent to the judicial modification of the scope and duration of the restrictions in this Section 14 in any proceeding brought to enforce such restrictions so as to make them valid, reasonable and enforceable. Executive hereby acknowledges that this Section 14 will be given the construction, which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent not exceeding its express terms, possible under applicable law.

 

15.

SURVIVAL

The parties agree that Executive’s obligations under Sections 7 (Employer Inventions), 9.1 (Termination by Employer without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason),13 (Confidential Information), and 14 (Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Covenants) of this Employment Agreement will survive the termination of this Employment Agreement and termination of Executive’s employment with Employer, regardless of when such termination may occur and regardless of the reasons for such termination.

 

16.

EFFECT OF EMPLOYER’S PERSONNEL POLICIES, RULES, AND PRACTICES

Executive is entitled to the benefit of, and is obligated to perform, all of Executive’s responsibilities under Employer’s personnel policies, rules, and practices in effect from time to time for all of its employees during the Employment Term. In the event of any conflict between Employer’s personnel policies, rules and/or practices, and this Employment Agreement, the provisions of this Employment Agreement shall be controlling.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

17.

INJUNCTIVE REMEDIES

The Parties agree that damages in the event of breach by Executive of Sections 7 (Employer Inventions), 13 (Confidential Information), or 14 (Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Covenants) of this Employment Agreement would be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is agreed that Employer, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to seek an immediate injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining any threatened or actual breach without the requirement to post a bond. The existence of this right will not preclude Employer from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that Employer may have, including recovery of damages.

 

18.

INTEGRATION

This Employment Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Parties pertaining to the subject matter addressed in this Employment Agreement. No oral modifications, express or implied, may alter or vary the terms of this Employment Agreement.

 

19.

AMENDMENT/NOVATION

No modifications, amendments, deletions, additions, or novations to or of this Employment Agreement will be effective unless they are completely and unambiguously contained in a writing signed by Executive and by the Chairman or his or her designee following approval of the Board.

 

20.

CHOICE OF LAW; VENUE

This Employment Agreement and any dispute arising from the relationship between the Parties will be governed by and construed under and according to the laws of Switzerland without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. Any dispute arising out of or in relation to this Employment Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Swiss Courts of Vaud.

 

21.

NOTICES

Any notice to Employer required or permitted under this Employment Agreement will be given in writing to Employer, either by personal service, email, facsimile, or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. Any notice to Executive will be given in a like manner and, if mailed, will be addressed to Executive at Executive’s home address then shown in Employer’s files as well as to his personal and work email addresses then shown in Employer’s files. For the purpose of determining compliance with any time limit in this Employment Agreement, a notice will be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of service, if served personally on the party to whom notice is to be given, (b) on the same business day given by facsimile, e-mail, or other electronic transmission, or (c) on the second (2nd) business day after mailing, if mailed to the party to whom the notice is to be

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

  given in the manner provided in this Section. As of the date this Employment Agreement is executed, notice is to be given at the following addresses:

To Employer:

Quotient Limited

PO Box 1075, Elizabeth House

9 Castle Street

St Helier

Jersey JE4 2QP

Channel Islands

Attn: Heino Von Prondzynski

E-mail: hvp-office@prondzynski.ch

To Executive:

Manuel Mendez

E-mail: Mendemo@gmail.com

Copy to:

Quotient Limited

B1, Business Park Terre Bonne

Route de Crassier 13

1262 Eysins

Switzerland

Attn: Viviane Montarnal

E-mail: Viviane.montarnal@quotientbd.com

 

22.

WITHHOLDING

Employer shall be entitled to withhold from any payments or deemed payments any amount of tax withholding it determines to be required by law.

 

23.

SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS

The Executive and the Employer shall each pay half of the contributions which are owed as a matter of law for AVS (Old Age and Survivors’ Insurance), AI (Invalidity Insurance), APG (Loss of Earnings Insurance), AC (Unemployment Insurance). The Executive’s part of the contributions shall be deducted by the Employer from his Base Compensation and any other appropriate cash payment.

 

24.

PENSION PLAN

The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Employer’s pension plan as of his first day of work. The contributions and the benefits are determined by the rules and regulations of the pension plan, as amended from time to time. The Executive’s contributions are deducted by the Employer from his Base Compensation and any other appropriate cash payment.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

25.

ILLNESS

In case of the Executive’s inability to perform his duties under this Employment Agreement due to illness, the Executive shall receive his salary according to the terms and conditions of the insurance for loss of earnings due to illness. The Employer shall deduct the Executive’s contributions – if any – from his Base Compensation. If there is no insurance for loss of earnings due to illness, the Employer’s obligation to continue to pay the Executive’s salary shall be determined by Art. 324a of the Swiss Code of Obligations.

 

26.

ACCIDENT

Executive is insured against occupational as well as non-occupational accidents. The contributions for the non-occupational accident insurance shall be paid by the Employer.

 

27.

DATA PROTECTION

As Executive’s employer, Employer needs to keep and process information about Executive for employment purposes (the “Personal Data”). The Personal Data held and processed by the Employer will be used for the Employer’s management and administrative use only. The Employer shall keep and process the Executive’s Personal Data to be able to pursue its business activities and manage its contractual relationship with Executive effectively, lawfully and appropriately, both during the employment relationship under this Employment Agreement and after its end. The holding and processing of Executive’s Personal Data by Employer is required in particular for Employer to be able (i) to comply with its obligations under this Employment Agreement and towards other employees, (ii) to comply with any legal requirements imposed on Employer, (iii) to pursue its legitimate interests and (iv) as the case may be, to protect Employer’s legal position in the event of legal proceedings. While holding and processing Personal Data, Employer shall at all times comply with the data protection principles set out in the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection and the European General Data Protection Regulation. Further information on the Personal Data held and processed by Employer and Executive’s rights in relation thereto shall be available upon request addressed to Employer’s human resources department.

 

28.

SEVERABILITY

Subject to Section 14.4, if any provision of this Employment Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Employment Agreement will nevertheless remain in full force and effect. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable with respect to particular circumstances, it will nevertheless remain in full force and effect in all other circumstances.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

29.

HEADINGS

The headings in this Employment Agreement are inserted for convenience only; are not part of this Employment Agreement, will not in any manner affect the meaning of this Employment Agreement or any paragraph, term, and/or provision of this Employment Agreement; and will not be deemed or interpreted to be a part of this Employment Agreement for any purpose.

 

30.

CONSTRUCTION

The language of this Employment Agreement will, for any and all purposes, be construed as a whole, according to its fair meaning, not strictly for or against Executive, on the one hand, or Employer, on the other hand, and without regard to the identity or status of any person or persons who drafted all or any part of this Employment Agreement.

 

31.

NO WAIVER

No waiver of a breach, failure of any condition, or any right or remedy contained in or granted by the provisions of this Employment Agreement will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the party waiving the breach, failure, right, or remedy. No waiver of any breach, failure, right, or remedy will be deemed a waiver of any other breach, failure, right, or remedy, whether or not similar, nor will any waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless the writing so specifies.

 

32.

WARRANTY AND FREEDOM TO CONTRACT

Executive warrants that he is under no disability that would prevent Executive from entering into this Employment Agreement and from complying with all of its provisions to their fullest extent. If Executive is enjoined or otherwise prevented by judicial or administrative determination from complying with the terms of this Employment Agreement, then Employer may terminate this Employment Agreement and Executive’s employment immediately without incurring any future liability, and for purposes of Section 9 such termination will be for Cause.

 

33.

EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS

This Employment Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

34.

FAXED OR PHOTOCOPIED SIGNATURES

A faxed or photocopied signature will have the same effect as an original signature.

 

35.

RIGHT TO COUNSEL

The undersigned Executive has read the foregoing Employment Agreement and has taken the time necessary to review completely and fully understand it. The undersigned Executive has had the unrestricted right and opportunity to have each and every paragraph,

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

term, and provision of the foregoing Employment Agreement and each and every result and consequence of its execution by the undersigned Executive fully explained to Executive by legal counsel selected and retained solely by Executive.

 

36.

CLAWBACK POLICIES

All amounts payable under this Employment Agreement or otherwise by Employer to the Executive shall be subject to the terms of Employer’s “clawback” policies as in effect from time to time.

[signature page follows]

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

The undersigned fully understands the foregoing Employment Agreement, accepts, and agrees to each and every paragraph, term, and provision contained in it, and fully accepts and agrees to it as binding Executive for any and all purposes whatsoever.

 

Employer: QUOTIENT LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Heino von Prondzynski

  Name:   Heino von Prondzynski
  Title:   Chairman

 

Executive
By:  

/s/ Manuel Mendez

  Name:   Manuel Mendez

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

SCHEDULE 1

BONUS AND EQUITY GRANT

 

1.

Discretionary Bonus. During the Employment Term, in addition to the Base Compensation, for each fiscal year of Employer ending during the Employment Term, Executive shall have the opportunity to receive an annual ex gratia cash bonus, which may be awarded in Employer’s sole discretion, in an amount equal to up to one hundred percent (100%) of the Base Compensation (the “Discretionary Bonus”) then in effect. The Discretionary Bonus shall be based on annual performance criteria and the achievement of personal objectives by Executive, which shall be mutually agreed upon by Employer and the Board and assessed by the Board in its sole discretion. The Discretionary Bonus shall be paid to Executive as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days following the fiscal year to which it relates. The Discretionary Bonus shall be paid to the Executive only if the Executive is employed by Employer on the date of payment. With respect to the 2022 fiscal year of Employer, the amount of Executive’s Discretionary Bonus shall be no less than eighty percent (80%) of Executive’s Base Compensation.

 

2.

Make-Whole Payment. On the Commencement Date, subject to Employer’s receipt of documentation substantiating the two million U.S. Dollar ($2,000,000) obligation owed by Executive to Quest Diagnostics (the “Quest Obligation”), Employer shall make a lump sum payment of two million U.S. Dollars ($2,000,000) (net of applicable withholding taxes) to Quest Diagnostics in satisfaction of the Quest Obligation. Employer shall indemnify Executive on a grossed up basis, which indemnity shall include Employer being responsible for and remitting applicable withholding taxes. Executive shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain a refund of taxes with respect to the two million U.S. Dollar ($2,000,000) payment Executive received from Quest Diagnostics giving rise to the Quest Obligation and Executive shall pay to Employer the amount of any such refund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Executive’s employment is terminated under Section 9.2 of the Employment Agreement or if Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason (as defined under Section 9.5 of the Employment Agreement) on or prior to March 31, 2023, Executive shall repay to the Employer the entire amount of payment (including the amount of applicable withholding taxes) made by Employer under this Section 2 of this Schedule 1 to the Employment Agreement immediately following such termination.

 

3.

Make-Whole Bonus Payment. If Executive forfeits the nine hundred sixty thousand U.S. Dollar ($960,000) cash bonus due to him by Quest Diagnostics as of March 31, 2021, the Employer shall pay Executive a lump sum amount equal to nine hundred sixty thousand U.S. Dollars ($960,000), provided, however, that, such payment shall be subject to Executive’s provision to Employer of documentation substantiating such forfeiture. If the Executive does not forfeit the nine hundred sixty thousand U.S. Dollar ($960,000) cash bonus due to him by Quest Diagnostics as of March 31, 2021, no payment shall be made to Executive by the Employer under this Section 3 of this Schedule 1 to the Employment Agreement.

 

4.

Sign-On Payment. On the Commencement Date, the Employer shall pay Executive a lump sum amount equal to one million sixty five thousand U.S. Dollars ($1,065,000).

 

Sch. 1-1


EXECUTION VERSION

 

5.

Sign-On Equity Grant. Effective as of the Commencement Date, Executive shall be granted:

 

  (a)

Restricted stock units with respect to shares of the Employer having a fair market value as of the date of grant equal to three million three hundred thirty three thousand three hundred thirty three U.S. Dollars ($3,333,333) (the “Sign-On RSUs”). Fifty percent (50%) of the Sign-On RSUs shall vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and twenty five percent (25%) of the Sign-On RSUs shall vest on each of the second and third anniversaries of the date of grant, provided, however, that, except as provided under Section 9.1 of the Employment Agreement, any Sign-On RSUs not vested shall be forfeited upon termination of Executive’s employment.

 

  (b)

Share options with respect to shares of the Employer having a fair market value as of the date of grant equal to one million six hundred sixty six thousand six hundred sixty seven U.S. Dollars ($1,666,667) and an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of a share of the Employer on the date of grant (the “Sign-On Share Options”). The Sign-On Share Options shall vest in three equal installments on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the date of grant, provided, however, that, except as provided under Section 9.1 of the Employment Agreement, any Sign-On Share Options not vested shall be forfeited upon termination of Executive’s employment.

 

6.

Annual Grants. On or about the Commencement Date and each anniversary of the Commencement Date thereafter during the Employment Term, Executive shall be granted:

 

  (a)

Restricted stock units with respect to shares of the Employer having a fair market value as of the date of grant equal to six hundred thousand U.S. Dollars ($600,000) (the “Annual RSUs”). The Annual RSUs shall vest in three equal installments on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the date of grant, provided, however, that, except for the accelerated vesting provisions as provided under Section 9.1 of the Employment Agreement, any Annual RSUs not vested shall be forfeited upon termination of Executive’s employment.

 

  (b)

Share options with respect to shares of the Employer having a fair market value as of the date of grant equal to four hundred thousand U.S. Dollars ($400,000) and an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of a share of the Employer on the date of grant (the “Annual Share Options”). The Annual Share Options shall vest in three equal installments on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the date of grant, provided, however, that, except as provided under Section 9.1 of the Employment Agreement, any Annual Share Options not vested shall be forfeited upon termination of Executive’s employment.

 

  (c)

Performance restricted stock units with respect to shares of the Employer having a target fair market value as of the date of grant equal to one million U.S. Dollars ($1,000,000) (the “Annual PSUs”). The Annual PSUs shall vest on third

 

Sch. 1-2


EXECUTION VERSION

 

  anniversary of the date of grant up to a maximum of 150% of the target fair market value of such Annual PSUs based on the level of achievement of performance goals and financial targets jointly agreed by Employer and Executive, provided, however, that, except as provided under Section 9.1 of the Employment Agreement, any Annual PSUs not vested shall be forfeited upon termination of Executive’s employment.

 

Sch. 1-3


EXECUTION VERSION

 

SCHEDULE 2

EXISTING INVENTIONS

N/A

 

Sch. 2-1